Libertas Americana Medal

Before the Bald Eagle became the symbol of America, Benjamin Franklin commissioned what is referred to as the “Libertas Americana” image to symbolize the new nation of the United States emerging. 

Benjamin Franklin was the United States Minister to France during the American Revolution.  He worked tirelessly to strengthen the relationship between France and the United States.  Franklin often presented gifts to prominent French officials to gain favor and to help secure French military support for the American Revolution, which would prove to be decisive as America sought its Independence from Great Britain.  He also purchased swords in France at the request of Congress to present to prominent American officers.

To celebrate and cement the alliance of France and the United States, Franklin produced a medal to commemorate France’s role in the American Revolution.  The image depicts America as an infant Hercules wearing a headband with the Roman numeral XIII (13) to represent the 13 States.  The infant is strangling two serpents representing the armies of Burgoyne and Cornwallis. France is represented by Minerva, clad in breastplate, helmet, and shield, is protecting the child from England, which is represented by a lion.  The Latin inscription translates as ''The courageous child was aided by the gods.” The dates below the image correspond to the two key American victories.  The date of 17 Oct 1777 represents the American victory over General Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga, New York, and the date of 19 Oct 1781 is the date of the American and French victory over Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia.

Franklin had Libertas Americana gold medals struck with this design and presented to the King and Queen of France, and he had silver versions presented to prominent Americans.  Non-precious metal versions of this medal were also struck.  The two gold medals have been lost to history, but some of the original silver and non-precious metal versions of this medal still exist and are highly prized by collectors.  Bronze versions of the Libertas Americana are currently valued around $50,000 depending upon condition, and silver versions of the medal have been known to be valued for as much as $200,000.   In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, a silver restrike of the Libertas Americana was done in 2026 and was used for the ceremonial coin flip to start Super Bowl LX.

Liberta Americana Saber

My interest in the Libertas Americana medal began when I came across an online advertisement for the sword described in this article.  The listing stated that the image of the Libertas Americana medal was on the scabbard.  At the time, I had never heard of the Libertas Americana medal, but I was intrigued because my field of collecting is American swords from the federal period, especially those made in France for the American market.  I scrutinized the online photos and descriptions.  It was evident from the photographs that the saber was a French manufactured saber from the late 18th or first decade of the 19th century.  After consulting with numerous sword experts with a combined 150 years of experience, I purchased the sword. 

All the experts I spoke with agreed with my opinion that this was a French made saber from the late 18th century to commemorate the American Revolution.  None of the experts had ever seen the use of the Libertas Americana symbol on any other sword specimens.  In addition, none of the French sword books referenced the use of this symbol on any French swords of the period.  What is most interesting is that the significance of this sword might have been lost had it not been in the possession of a pawn shop that traded in American coins and medals and understood the importance of the Libertas Americana medal.  This is a great example of the cross-flow of information from one field of collecting into the field of arms collecting.